Ice cream shops have reported “treble” the sales of a wet week as the early summer sunshine continues, writes Colm McGuirk.

But the much-loved 99 could soon cost more in many shops around the country, thanks to an upcoming 20% price hike in the Cadbury's Flake.

Aside from a rainy blip in the next couple of days that farmers will welcome, prolonged dry weather is set to return later in the week.

The last two weeks of sunshine have meant strong sales for the semi-weather reliant ice cream industry.

Ice cream wholesaler and shop owner Pádraic Rudden from Cavan told the Irish Mail on Sunday: “The weather for the last couple of weeks would probably treble the sale of ice cream, compared to a wet week. We put in three boxes of cones in our shop [Rudden's Costcutter in Cavan town] on Thursday, which is over 1,000 cones - and we had to get more today.”

Mr Rudden estimated around half of his ice cream sales now are the previously supreme 99, with cup-and-spoon options now “becoming very attractive” thanks to an array of sauces and toppings.

For Teddy's Ice Cream in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin, the “standard 99 with a little bit of raspberry sauce” is still the best seller, according to co-owner Yasmin Khan.

Ms Khan said: “Last year wasn't great at all, and we've had a lovely start now to this year.”

While temperatures will reach 16C to 20C today again, outbreaks of rain will feed up from the southeast in the evening.